Flocking machine



C. M. DAVIS FLOCKING MACHINE July 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7, 1956 .4 5 M w 1.. 5 4.2 5. 4| 5 Z 7 m y T 5 5 mm/W Am M H c B.

July 8,- 1958 c. M. DAVIS 'FLOCKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1956 FIG. Z.

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of Figure 1;

United States 7 254mm Patented July 8, 1958 FLOCKING MACHINE Carl M. Davis, Riverside, Calif.

Application November 7, 1956, Serial No. 620,940

Claims. (Cl. 302-37) This invention relates to a flocking machine, and constitutes an improvement over the flocking machine described in co-pending patent application Serial No. 550,510, filed November 10, 1955, now Patent No. 2,786,721, March 26, 1957, for a Flocking Machine.

In the above-cited co-pending application, there is described and claimed an apparatus incorporating a flockfeeding drum which is rotated by a compressed air motor. The compressed air, which is also employed to operate an adhesive-spraying device associated with the flocking I machine, must come from a large, heavy and expensive compressor since very substantial amounts of compressed air are required. The large cost of such a compressor, and the difiiculty and expense of moving the same from place to place in order to flock objects such as Christmas trees, have been substantial factors in increasing the cost of flocked products.

The structure described in the co-pending application also requires substantial amounts of compressed air in order to effect blowing of flock from the bottom of a hopper through a conduit and to the place where an object, such as a Christmas tree, is to be sprayed. As described in detail in such application, this blowing action, together with the characteristics of the flock, result in problems of balling or clogging which are diflicult to overcome.

in view of the above factors characteristic of flocking machines, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved flocking machine which eliminates the need for an air compressor, and which effects movement of the flock particles to the point of use in a highly simple manner and without resulting in any clogging of conduits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flocking apparatus incorporating means to such flock particles out of the bottom of the hopper and to 'pass such particles through a rotating impeller and thence into a conduit leading to the point of use, the result being that neck is effectively impelled through such conduit without the necessity of employing a compressed air source, and without danger of clogging.

An additional object is to provide an all-electric flocking apparatus incorporating improved means for varying the rate of rotation of the flock-feeding drum, and thus the rate of flock feed.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawings to which they relate.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a flocking apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view on line 2 Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and showing a portion of the means for regulating the rate of flock feed;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of line 4-4 of Figure 1, illustrating the impeller which sucks the flock particles out of the bottom of the hopper and into the flock conduit;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1; illustrating the change-speed mechanism; and

Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 but illustrates the change-speed mechanism in a dilferent operating position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the flocking apparatus may be seen to comprise generally a supporting frame 10, a hopper 11, flockfeeding means 12, means 13 to suck flock from the bottom of hopper 11 and impel the same into a flock conduit 14, and means 16 to drive the flock-feeding means 12 at a controlled rate of speed. The supporting frame 10 may be of any suitable variety, and is illustrated to comprise a substantial number of angle irons which are bolted or welded together. More particularly, frame 10 is formed with an A-frame portion at each end of the hopper 11, and is provided with horizontal support or cross bars to support the hopper 11 as well as other portions of the apparatus.

The hopper 11 is preferably formed of sheet metal, and comprises a pair of vertically disposed, trapezoidal end walls 17 the side edges of which connect to rectangular upper portions of downwardly converging inclined side walls 18. Below the trapezoidal end walls 17, and connected to the lower edges thereof, are downwardly converging triangular funnel walls 19. The latter connect at their side edges to triangular lower portions 21 of the side walls 18. Such lower portions 21 may be referred to as funnel portions since they cooperate with the funnel walls 19 to provide a funnel chamber 22 (Figure 2) through which flock is fed from the feeding means 12 to means 13.

Flock-feeding means 12 (Figure 2) comprises a perforated drum 23 which is fixedly connected to a pair of axially extending stub shafts 24. The respective shafts 24 extend through apertures in walls 17 and are journaled in suitable bearings 26 at the apexes of the A-frame portions of supporting frame 10. The drum is provided with a perforated cover 27 which is hingedly mounted as at 28, and which may be opened in order to introduce quantities of flock into the drum. The cover is normally secured by means of a suitable clasp, not shown.

From the above it will be understood that rotation of drum 23 will effect feeding of flock particles through the perforations in drum 23 and cover 27, and downwardly into the funnel chamber 22. The rate of such feeding will depend, for a given size and number of perforations, upon the rotational speed of the drum.

The means 13 for sucking flock out of the funnel chamber 22, and impelling it into and through flock conduit 14, comprises an annular casing 29 having a tangential discharge portion 31. Discharge portion 31 is connected to the wide end of an elongated nozzle 32, the latter being suitably jointed at its narrow end to the inner end of flock conduit 14. A bracket 33 is provided at the joint between nozzle 32 and flock conduit 14 in order to removably secure the same to frame 10.

One side wall of casing 29 is provided with a relatively large round opening, and is sealingly connected around such opening to an intake conduit 34 (Figure 1). The outer end of conduit 34 is sealingly connected to a funnel cap 36 which is suitably secured to the lower ends of funnel walls 19 and 21, the arrangement being such that the funnel cap and connected equipment may be removed when desired. The funnel cap 36 is provided with a side electric motor 57 adapted to drive an impeller 38 (Figure 4). The blades 39 of the impeller are adapted to direct air and entrained flock particles through tangential discharge portion 31 and nozzle 32 into flock conduit 14. This creates a substantial suction inintake conduit 34, effecting sucking or drawing of flock from funnel cap 36. It is emphasized that the flock thus flows through the impeller 38, which operates to break up balls or wads of flock and insure that all flock fed into the conduit 14 will be in the desired particulate condition. The need for special chambers and other means to break up balls or wads of flock is thus eliminated.

Motor 37 is supported on a suitable bracket 41 connected to funnel walls 19, and is controlled by means of a switch 42 mounted on frame 10.

Proceeding next to a description of the drive means 16 for drum 23, a generally horizontal support platform 33 is pivotally connected at one end to a suitable bracket (i4 (Figure 2) on frame it). The other end of support platform 43 is provided with abolt 46 (Figure l) which extends through a vertical slot 457 in a dependent bracket 48, the latter being welded at its upepr end to frame it). It follows that loosening of the bolt 46 will permit pivoting of the support platform about bracket 44, and will effect adjustment of the platform elevation.

Mounted on'platform d3 are an electric motor 49 and connected gear reducer 51. The output shaft of the gear reducer is provided with a pulley 53 around which is mounted a V-belt54, the latter extending upwardly and around a change-speed device 56 next to be described.

Referring to Figures and 6, the change-speed device comprises a stub shaft 57 which rotates in a bearing 58 and has mounted thereon two outer sheave elements 59 and 61, and a central sheave element 62. The outer elements 59 and 61 are locked to shaft 57, by means of set screws 63, but the central element 62 may slide longitudinally on the shaft. Element 62 is, however, keyed to the shaft by a key 62a. The belt 54 is mounted between the bevelled faces of elements 61 and 62, and a second belt 64 is mounted between bevelled faces of elements 59 and 62. Belt 64 extends upwardly around a relatively large pulley 66 which is fixedly mounted on one of the shafts 24 connected to drum 23.

The bearing 58 for the change-speed device 56 is, as

est shown in Figures 1 and 3, connected to an arm 67. Arm 67 is pivotally connected at one end, to the left in Figure 3, to a bracket 6? on frame llii. The other end of arm 67 is provided with anextension 69 which extends adjacent one leg of frame and has mounted thereon a handle 71. As shown in Figure 3, handle 71 passes slidably through an opening in a bent-over end portion of extension 69, and also passes slidably through a bracket 72 mounted on extension 69. The handle then extends through any one of a number of openings 73 in the leg of frame 10, the openings being spaced vertically along such leg so that the inner end of handle 71 may be selectively locked in any opening in order to adjust the pivoted position of the arm 67. A compression spring 74 is seated between the bent-over end of extension 69 and a washer 76 which is locked on handle 71, to thus urge the handle to the left (in Figure 3) and into one of the holes 73.

In the operation of the drive means 16, including the change-speed device, handle 71 is pulled out, against the bias of spring 74, permitting pivoting of arm 67 about bracket 68. The elevated positions of bearing 58 and stub shaft 57 are thus adjusted, which effects shifting of the ends of belts 54 and 64 either toward or away from stub shaft 57. Such shifting of the belts, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, is accompanied by sliding of the cen-- tral sheave component 62 along shaft 57. The shifting of the belts relative to stub shaft 57 operates to change the speed ratio therebetween, so that rotation of drive pulley 53 at a given rate will effect rotation of driven pulley 66 at varying rates depending upon the elevated or depressed 4 position of stub shaft 57. Tightening of the belts, and additional adjustment, is effected by loosening bolt 46 and pivoting platform 43 upwardly or downwardly about bracket i and then retightening the bolt 46 to lock the platform to bracket 48.

Operation In the operation of the flocking apparatus, drum cover 27 is opened about hinge 28, and a desired quantity of flock is introduced into the drum 23. The cover is then pivoted back in place and is latched against opening movement. Flock conduit 14 is then connected for discharge adjacent a suitable spray nozzle for the adhesive which secures the flock particles to the object, such as a Christmas tree, being sprayed.

Switch 42, which is a double switch controlling not only the electric motor 37 but also electric motor 49, is then turned on toeffect energization of both of these motors. Energization of motor 37 effects high speed rotation of impeller 38, whereas energization of motor 49 operates through speed reducer 51, belt 54, change-speed device 56, and belt to rotate the pulley 66, shaft 24 and flock-feeding drum 23. The change-speed device 5-6 is regulated, by pivoting the handle 67 as above described in detail, in order'to control precisely the speed or drum rotation.

The rotation of drum 23 causes flock particles to feed gradually through the perforations therein, and downwardly through the funnel chamber 22 into funnel cap These flock particles, which frequently ball or wad in the funnel cap, are then drawn out of the funnel cap and through the intake conduit 34 into casing 29. The whirling impeller 38 then breaks up the wads or calls of flock and effects discharge of flock particles out discharge portion 31 through nozzle 32 and into fiock conduit 14.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A flocking apparatus, comprising a hopper having a generally funnel-shaped bottom portion, a perforated drum mounted in the upper portion of said hopper for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, means to effect rotation of said drum about said horizontal axis at a controlled rate to thereby effect controlled feeding of flock particles through the perforations of said drum and into said bottom portion of said hopper, a generally annular casing mounted adjacent the extreme lower end of said hopper bottom portion and having a tangential discharge outlet, means to connect said extreme lower end to the center portion of one side of said casing to permit flow of flock particles into said casing, an impeller rotatably mounted in said casing and generally coaxial therewith, electric motor means to rotate said impeller to thereby effect flow of flock into said casing through said impeller and thence into said discharge outlet, and conduit means connected to said discharge outlet to conduct flock particles therefrom to a point of use, characterized in that said means to effect rotation of said drum includes an electric motor, speed reduction means driven by said electric motor and having an output pulley, a change-speed mechanism including a pair of outer sheave elements fixedly mounted on a common shaft in spaced relationship and a central sheave element also mounted on said shaft, a belt to connect said output pulley to said change-speed-mechanism, said belt being mounted between one of said outer sheave elements and said central sheave element, a driven pulley mounted on a shaft connected axially to said drum, a second belt mounted around said driven pulley and also mounted between the other of said outer sheave elements and said central sheave element, and means to adjust the position of said shaft for said sheave elements to thereby change the speed ratio between said output pulley of said speed reduction means and said driven pulley.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to adjust the position of said shaft for said sheave elements includes a bearing for said sheave element shaft, an arm adapted to support said bearing and connected at one end to a frame portion of the flocking apparatus, and detent means mounted at the other end of said arm and adapted to be adjusted between various pivoted positions to thereby change the location of said shaft for said sheave elements.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said electric motor and said speed-reducing means are mounted on a common platform, and means are provided to adjust the position of said platform.

4. A flocking machine which comprises a hopper, flock feeding means including a rotatable element adapted when rotating at a relatively high speed to efiect rapid feeding of flock into the bottom portion of said hopper and when rotating at a relatively low speed to effect relatively slow feeding of flock into the bottom portion of said hopper, means to effect rotation of said rotatable element, means to effect precise and continuous control of the speed of rotation of said rotatable element over an infinite number of speeds between predetermined upper and lower limits, a casing mounted at said bottom portion of said hopper and communicating therewith, said casing having a discharge portion adapted to be connected to a flock feeding conduit, an impeller rotatably mounted in said casing and adapted when rotated to draw particles offiock from said hopper bottom portion into said casing and through said impeller for discharge out said discharge portion and into said conduit, and motor means to rotate said impeller.

5. A flocking apparatus, comprising a hopper having a generally funnel-shaped bottom portion, a perforated drum mounted in the upper portion of said hopper for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, means to effect rotation of said drum about said horizontal axis, means to vary the speed of rotation of said drum through an infinite number of speeds between predetermined upper and lower limits to thus effect controlled feeding of flock particles through the perforations of said drum and into said bottom portion of said hopper, a generally annular casing mounted adjacent the lower end of said hopper bottom portion and having a tangential discharge outlet, means to connect said lower end to the center portion of one side of said casing to permit flow of flock particles into said casing, an impeller rotatably mounted in said casing and generally coaxial therewith, electric motor means to rotate said impeller to thereby effect fiow of flock into said casing and through said impeller into said discharge outlet, and conduit means connected to said discharge outlet to conduct flock particles therefrom to a point of use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,786,721 Davis et al. Mar. 26, 1957 

